What do coffee, ketchup, candle wax and make up have in common? They are among the “thinking beyond the pallet” painting tools of Lone Star College-CyFair student artists.
When the pandemic forced Renee Justiss to shift her studio Painting I and Painting II courses to an online format, she had to answer the question “How can students create paintings without their painting supplies?” A friend’s simple suggestion to paint with coffee opened a floodgate of ideas in dealing with sudden limitations everyone now faced.
Her assignments became unique, weekly art challenges geared toward extending their creative problem-solving abilities as well as being resourceful with minimal materials. Without letter grades, just encouragement of participation sharing their work in an online community forum, Justiss removed the pressure to create “perfect” art during an already traumatic situation.
The first challenge was to re-create a painting or other major work of art using any household materials to mimic museum pieces then photograph it. They would be learning lighting, form and composition simply through observation and she even insisted students consider making the work humorous to appeal to their audience.
“I was absolutely stunned (and humbled) by the overwhelming positive response I received from my students,” she said.
Student feedback included comments on how they appreciated having something engaging to do while being stuck at home, as well as the fun they had enlisting family members as models and and to help with the assignments. Classmates also cheered and provided positive peer support for each other.
The second challenge involved creating a painting utilizing items, such as creating paints from condiments, crushed berries, steeped tea or coffee, food coloring, etc., they found at home.
The third challenge was a photo or video challenge to re-create forced perspective, which is often used in movies and Surrealist art (think Alice in Wonderland where Alice is smaller or larger than life in a variety of scenes).
Subsequent challenges included natural and recycled materials with an emphasis on environmentalism and human consumption.
Through these challenges, students are learning how early civilizations had to make their own pigments and tools to create great works of art, Justiss said. They learn to respect and appreciate the survival and creation of such works found in museums to this date (examples include Neolithic cave art and Fayum portraiture).
“An additional advantage of these art challenges is that students are engaged in something positive, rewarding, and fun, which is an enormous benefit for mental health in times of extreme trauma,” Justiss said.
Showcasing the creative works of talented college and community artists continues with the help of LSC-CyFair's Bosque Gallery Coordinator Heather Braman.
Currently, art lovers can view some of Justiss's student art challenge results as well as other student artwork from this semester on Bosque Gallery's Instagram. An April Instagram Live Q&A event with artist Ellen Ray about her "Seen and Unseen" exhibition is available for viewing on their IGTV.
Braman will also post Art Challenge submissions from LCS-CyFair's weekly art challenges she hosts for students in the community to achieve at home. View all the submissions on Instagram with the hashtag #artathomeLSC.
In June, more LSC-CyFair student semester art along with exhibition artwork of the first senior class from Bridgeland High School will be featured on Instagram.
Fall registration is underway at LSC-CyFair. To register for Painting I or Painting II, email Renee.L.Justiss@LoneStar.edu.